Queen Makeda — Restaurant in Harare

Really had a good time here😁 The food was great, and Aaron was an awesome waiter. He told us a bit about the food we where eating and it's significance. He was polite and quite professional as well 🤗

I really enjoyed the food. I wish I had ordered a vegetable dish as well but it was great food!

I was just a tad bit annoyed I suppose when the owner refused a $100 bill I wanted to use to pay because it had some writing on the back. I had received the money that way actually from an ATM...and from my understanding it's an issue when money is torn or perhaps, like fake, but not if someone's written on it. We used it soon after at Gelato Crema and it wasn't a problem. So I had to wonder if it had anything to do with the way we looked and if they would have requested the same ( to use a different bill) from anyone else.

However, maybe I'm bringing baggage from the way I've been treated in other restaurants to this experience. Maybe it wasn't about the way we looked at all😂. I also had to remind myself that this is a family business(or at least it seems like it) and perhaps they have to be very careful I guess?

But anyway, make sure you have clean looking money, I guess? Also, make sure you bring cash, because they don't take visa or MasterCard. Luckily They actually had change which is apparently rare these days 😂

Despite this tiny issue it was really nice there. Waiting time was great. The place could definitely do with a bit of background music and a greater variety of drinks( not a big fan of soft drinks).

Food was nice and hot. There wasn't anyone else there so waiting time for food was good. The garden looked beautiful. The decor made it feel authentic. And, I mean it was definitely authentic because the chef is Ethiopian. The chef/owner (I think ) was very sweet when we came in initially and gave us some good recommendations for the dishes to order.

My sisters really loved the food and I took them there so they could try it. They really loved the place as well, so if they are happy, I'm happy. We will probably be back for more because they definitely want to...

Service & Atmosphere: Queen Makeda offers a peaceful, homely setting—it’s based in a house with the option to sit indoors or outdoors. The ambience is calm and welcoming. The server was friendly, transparent about prices, and took time to explain the menu, which was helpful for newcomers to Ethiopian cuisine.

Menu & Pricing: I ordered the Alecha Wot ($14). Food took about 32 minutes to arrive, which is on the longer side. For the price, the portion could have been larger; it worked more as a light lunch than a full meal.

Food: The Alecha Wot tasted good, with tender meat and mild seasoning—it wasn’t spicy, making it approachable for those unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. A note for diners: eating with your hands is traditional, and the dish can leave your fingers stained yellow from the spices.

Overall: Queen Makeda is a charming introduction to Ethiopian cuisine, especially for first-timers. While the portion size and value could be improved, the quality, ambience, and warm service make it a pleasant and memorable spot for a light,...

I absolutely love supporting family businesses, and this restaurant was a gem! Our server, Aaron, mentioned that this is his mother's business, and she is Ethiopian. We had reservations for Monday at 8 pm, and the restaurant was empty but had a lovely ambiance. Aaron made sure we were well taken care of and attended to, but we were still able to enjoy the feeling of having the entire restaurant to ourselves.

We ordered the #6 sizzling beef and the #4 lamb. The sizzling beef was my favorite by far; the flavors were incredible! The lamb was in a delightful sauce though. We enjoyed our meal family-style off the injera loaf on the tray, and the restaurant kindly provided some greens on the house.

Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for delicious Ethiopian cuisine and excellent service! It's around the same price point as Spice Lounge or something like that, 2 waters plus the 2 entrees was $34, enough only...